Pub Theology LIVE

Shannon, Ogun and Bryan discuss the controversial remarks by Kansas City Kicker Harrison Butker at a recent college commencement ceremony. Are his remarks about women understandable given the context? Are they indefensible? What is the worldview that creates and supports such a perspective? We also look at the troubling text in 1 Timothy 2 which calls for women to be silent in the church. How are...

Bryan, Shannon and Ogun discuss the life and times of an AI Priest named Father Justin. How and why did things go wrong? Will there be future such attempts at integrating artificial intelligence with religion and spirituality? We also discuss the question of meeting a man or a bear in the woods, and whether pluralism is at risk in the US and beyond.

This week Bryan and Ogun discuss the news of the move toward full inclusion of LGBTQ+ folks in the United Methodist Church: was it worth losing thousands of churches to finally arrive at this place? We also discuss media coverage of the campus protests, the slowness of justice, and co-opting praise songs.

Shannon is back! We discuss the current college protests and whether teaching competition in education leads to war. We also discuss Russell Brand's baptism and conversion to Christianity, which he says will allow him to "leave the past behind." Can you ever truly leave the past behind? We also discuss the idea of Christian pluralism and the plan of trying out various religions to make sure your b...

Bryan and Ogun discuss the challenge of finding work/life balance, especially when it comes to making time for one's spiritual life. A church in the UK is attempting short, 15-minute "micro services" to help people fit worship into their busy lives. We discuss whether this is an appropriate concession to our busy world, or caving to modern pressures. What is gained or lost in such a short gatherin...

Ogun shares about the green monkey infestation on the island of Barbados, and we wonder whether we humans are the monkeys when it comes to planet Earth. In light of Earth Day, we discuss environmental challenges, whether AI will wipe us out to solve climate change, and what we are worried about most. We also discuss tax day, and whether taxes should be as low as possible, or whether we should be g...

It's our Eclipse Episode! Shannon and Bryan share their eclipse experiences in Maryland and Michigan. We also reflect on religious views on the eclipse event, and what kind of meaning might be ascribed to such a celestial happening. We also discuss a new documentary which posits that Jesus was not just a vegetarian, he was the "OG animal activist." Shannon has thoughts. Tune in for some engaging l...

Should Judas have held out for more money? In our pre-Holy Week episode we discuss whether people are more interested in being affirmed in their current beliefs than discovering the truth, and the problematic theological view known as supersessionism. Plus: was Saint Patrick a hero or something more sinister, considering how he treated folks who practiced the old ways of paganism? Also, we share o...

We discuss the role of animal chaplain, where someone will do pastoral care and funerals for those who lose a beloved dog, cat or goat. Is this a role the church needs to put more emphasis on? We discuss. We also compare Ramadan and Lent, talk about the Bible vs the Word of God, the emergent church, and whether cabbage is the new bacon. Plus: favorite Oscar moments. Check it out! It's the latest e...

Shannon and Bryan discuss whether God appoints people to leadership positions at certain moments in history; cough—Donald Trump; we also discuss how good the church really is at forgiveness and extending grace, and whether trying to have faith over fear is a good thing. Also, we celebrate all things March, and discuss what space there is or should be in the church for wisdom and insights from othe...

Are you someone who creates a life plan? Or do you just take it one day at a time? We discuss that, as well as the Apostle Paul's chastisement of church members who are arguing and grumbling. When is complaining OK, and when is it a sign of a deeper issue? We also discuss the first of Martin Luther's 95 Theses, and the troubling rise of Christian nationalism. Also, just who are those folks Shannon...

Karl Marx said, “Philosophers seek to understand the world; the point, however, is to change it.” We discuss whether our tendency is to research, analyze and understand before making a decision, or if we are quicker to just act. And is there a difference between men and women on this? We also discuss our communication styles, as Ogun claims immediately to be passive-aggressive, as well as whether...

It's our Post-Super Bowl, Lent-Kickoff episode! We talk the halftime show, commercials, and in particular the Jesus "He Gets Us" ads. Are they a bait and switch? We also discuss Lent and Ash Wednesday, and Bryan learns that purgatory is no longer official Catholic doctrine. We also discuss heaven and hell in light of Bryan's colonoscopy experience. Lots of fun and banter as always, along with some...

Shannon is back! We discuss whether society is moving further away from religion as it progresses, how our views of God have changed over the years, and what a 'religionless Christianity' might look like. Plus, Bryan doesn't know how to do voicemail, and is fasting before his first colonoscopy experience. What will they discover, in the end? Lots of fun and theological insight as always!

A town in Ohio is suing a pastor for providing shelter for the unhoused. The town's name is Bryan, OH. Bryan and Ogun discuss the reasons the city may have for doing this, and why local businesses would be better off siding with the church than with the city. We also discuss the sins of our ancestors, and our shifting social media usage. Plus, Bryan breaks down how he has gotten off the mat after...

Bryan and Shannon, sans Ogun, discuss the attempt by scientists to create social robots who can care for people experiencing dementia, among others. Can robots truly be social? We also discuss the concept of loneliness, whether it is always or ever voluntary, and differentiate solitude from being lonely. Also: did creation happen because was God lonely? Then finally, we discuss the cryptic notion...

While Shannon enjoys a German beer called "Hell," we discuss being over the moon and lunar trivia. We also consider the law of reciprocity, and whether being generous with others tends to come back around? Finally, the conversation moves to deconstruction and whether Martin Luther King Jr's idea of nonviolence is realistic in a world at war. We might need more of that German beer to tackle this!

What is the longest you've gone without food or water? The Bible says Moses went forty days and forty nights without either. We discuss that as well as the spiritual practice of fasting. And: could AI help us in our everyday lives, and should a public school religion teacher should be able to proselytize his students? Finally, yes, Bryan is obnoxiously elated about his football team.

Rev. Dr. Melissa Allison joins Shannon and Ogun to discuss Christmas carols, Christmas theology, purity culture and the pagan celebration of Yule. Why has the obsession with sexual purity persisted in some forms of Christianity, a faith that celebrates an unwed teenage mother? Tune in for this special holiday episode!

If someone said to you, "We need to keep Christ in Christmas" - how would you respond? We discuss that, plus a Pew survey that finds 7 in 10 Americans describe themselves as spiritual, while 10% say they are 'religious but not spiritual.' What does that mean? We also discuss the limits of free speech in the case of three university presidents, as Bryan and Ogun catch Shannon up on the news.

Ogun breaks out the rum as Derrick Weston joins the show to talk about the idea of a cloud of witnesses as referenced in Scripture, and whether that applies to folks living or dead. Is it creepy or encouraging to imagine there are folks looking on? We also discuss the concept of hope and whether it is something that can inspire us to or deter us from taking action in the world. We also get into wo...

A lively episode this week as we talk about armed church members, rules and TikTok Jesus! Should churches have an active shooter response plan? Should that plan involve guns? Would you follow a TikTok Jesus for inspiration and potential blessings? And are people more important than rules? We discuss it all over beverages. Tune in!

Notably in the Gospel records, there are several times where Jesus admonishes his disciples saying, "Are you still so dull?" What do you imagine would prompt Jesus to say that to his followers today? We discuss that, plus imagination, the usefulness of thumbs, and Diwali.

Shannon reveals that in her house growing up, there were basically three books: an encyclopedia set, War and Peace, and Bo Knows. Nietzsche says "Fear someone who has only one book." We discuss the idea of reading widely, of being told not to read certain books, and whether the idea of a 'biblical worldview' has merit. Plus: can we just not have to decide what's for dinner anymore??

Recording on Halloween, Bryan tries on a few different masks as we discuss favorite scary movies, ghosts, dealing with criticism, and the journey. Plus Ogun has one more show to tell us about, and we decide all problems can be solved with a high enough ABV.